Brain death

Brain death is the complete and irreversible loss of brain function (including involuntary activity necessary to sustain life).
Brain death is one of the two ways of determination of death; the other way of determining death is irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions.
It differs from persistent vegetative state, in which some autonomic functions remain.

The determination of brain death can be considered to consist of four steps:

Ancillary testing (only one needs to be performed: to be ordered only if clinical examination cannot be fully performed due to patient factors, or if apnea testing inconclusive or aborted)
-Cerebral angiogram, electroencephalogram, transcranial Doppler, SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography)

​Disclaimer. Pallipedia does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes, or services; therefore, their mention cannot be construed as such. Pallipedia should not be used as guidance to treatment and its purpose is to provide users with information to help them better understand conditions and the current range of approaches related to palliative care. Pallipedia urges health care providers and patients to always consult other relevant and up-to-date experts.